OMG soooo funny, did you think that up yourself!!!???????!!!!!???!?!?!?!?!?!

freespeech

Hixxy

@Mit: Really? Cos a lot of Wii complaints have been "But the graphics suck!" or some other reiteration of the same thing on every single Wii post since it came out. We get it, they suck. They're Gamecube graphics. Big deal. Graphics don't equal a good time. That's what I was getting at.

ekstrapiksels

TheIrishNinja

heads up to gamers looking to trade wii codes- [www.mariokartchallenger.com]

urlate325

Ampillion = That Man.

Thank you for saying something Im sure a lot of people have been feeling.
I know that I used to be a regular commenter, but the last few months I haven't felt the need to comment, because I know that at the end of the day the whole thread usually turns into a pissing match about something.

I miss the old Kotaku commenting structure. We just need a more efficient way of keeping out the people who bring nothing to the table but hate and misconduct.

ON TOPIC: I love mario kart, and can not wait for it to hit the US.

dantemustdie

We need to establish some rules of posting etiquette and conduct. No one fucking cares if you have a thesaurus handy if you're only using it to make your argument SOUND intelligent (or funny - actually funny - not bringing up RROD in any thread that has the number 360 in it, or ever mentioning "U R MR GAY"). You need to actually have something actually intelligent to say, and if you're only posting in a thread to "defend" yourself against MULTIPLE COMBATANTS then maybe you need to figure out why SO MANY PEOPLE are "against" you. Maybe you're being an asshole? Maybe you started talking shit? Maybe you're the LONE VOICE OF REASON in a thread full of people that need the shining light of your obviously superior intelligence? (If you think it's the last option, then I have a PROTIP for you - you're an idiot and need to be banned.)

We need to find more commenters like Witzbold that we can entrust with the awesome power of calling down The Thunder. We just have too many anonymous voices to be effectively policed by so few editors.

Mansteak

Assuming games continue being on discs, I can't wait to see what happens a couple generations down the road. A system that can play PS6, PS5, PS4, PS3, PS2, and PS games? Man I'm getting all tingly just thinking about it.

dowingba

In any case, I can kind of relate to this argument in that I don't like how Wii's graphics are developing. Some titles push past "gameplay over graphics" into "downright lazy" and use gameplay over graphics as an excuse for poor visuals. I think this Mario Kart is no exception. Sure it might be so that online works well, but really, these character models are identical to those found in Double Dash.

Really Nintendo? They are the last people I'd expect to reuse graphics from an older game, in a newer iteration of a huge franchise. This game seems like they only allowed enough development time for gameplay, and left nothing for graphical polish, and copped out and just used Double Dash models, and the exact same art style. Super Mario Galaxy incorporated tons of new effects and technology to make the game look a lot nicer, and they also put a lot of time into the gameplay and design of everything. Metroid Prime 3 had fantastic visuals as well. So why does Mario Kart look like a subpar Gamecube game? Sure it looks nice and smooth in motion, and plays well, but what's wrong with making the title look better for its next iteration?

Mit

1. Its cheaper, so more people can afford, means a higher demand for it.

2. It's kid oriented and parents feel safe buying a Nintendo Anything for their kids.

3. Just because Nintendo didn't make enough to meet demand and it being sold out does not equal superiority automatically.

4. Most gamers have this as a backup system. Why? Because the Wii is not next gen. You can't play all the amazing games that have come out this generation like Bioshock, Metal Gear Solid 4, and all the other greats that not ONLY pushed machines to the edge graphically, but have great story telling.

5.Most of the games out for the Wii could have been done on the Gamecube. In fact, most of the games for the Wii ARE Gamecube games, with a slight modification. It's just a Gamecube with a new controller scheme. Thats all. Stop acting like it was the second coming of Christ.

Otacon91

And thus, the Wii was born, and has been sold out since it hit the shelves.

On topic, I'm excited about trying out Mario Kart for the Wii. I just finished Zelda and Super Mario 64 can only hold my attention for so long. :D

ekstrapiksels

valhum

I was, in fact, ignoring your diatribe entirely and reffering to the posts above you 'wii'ing contest' :)

Lemming

It's like...people forget this is just a hobby.

Rebochan

Oh right, I forgot. Wii = casual, regardless of genre. Silly me.

Rebochan

Otacon91

Bernard McGraw

I've played Wii and PS3 but what I love about 360 is the fecking great games and online. Live rules, good games rule and I can't be arsed with Nintendo and their 4/5 good games per hardware iteration anymore.

f0cus

We get it, you don't like the Wii or the games Nintendo makes anymore. Cool. It doesn't justify making FIVE POSTS IN A ROW. Frankly I think that's bannable, regardless of the mindless trash you posted earlier.

I'm sure Nintendo would love to take your marketing advice. Make a hardcore console again, you say. They did that with N64, GameCube, etc. They were met with diminishing market share and their first losing quarter ever.

Now, however, they can't take your call. Why? They can't find their phone under the piles of money.

In other words: Let it go. If you're done with Nintendo, good for you. Glad you realized it. You don't have to punish everyone else with reams of text trying to justify your decision and keep hammering on Nintendo.

Huckleberry

Bernard McGraw

elronathon

Fyren

But please don't assume that your ideas are better than Nintendo's. Look how well they are doing with this console. They obviously are doing something correctly by selling cheaper hardware. People are proving with their wallets that Wii games that they (and 3rd party devs) have made are, in fact, fun to play.

You want them to "grow some balls and bring the fight to Sony and MS" ? This is a business, not a pissing contest. They are doing fine without your immature concept of gaming manhood. Nintendo is by far, the bravest and most courageous of the three console makers.

el_gordo

49er_477

Which is why I like the PS3, all the style and reliability of the Wii with the Scope and depth/graphics of the 360 (variable, sometimes worst sometimes far better)

I'm really not biased, I think a lot of people can't get their head around that because anyone who posts a contary argument or goes against the pack is branded a fanboy, i'd be some kind of strange fanboy given the systems I own/have owned.

Sharpfish

Again, that's entirely not the point of my post. Is it so hard to get your head around how cool it would be to have the brilliant gameplay of mariokart but looking just a bit better than it does on the wii? Maybe you are not bothered about low res textures and low poly counts or whatever but many are, esp on HD TVs which show them up more, yes they still play great and if you've never played them (esp on GC) then sure it's fun - to me it's 'more of the same' far more than most sequals on 360 and PS3 are because. The only bullet point is some crap online system and the motion control - cool but these are mere increments rather than revoltionary changes that I had hoped based on the initial naming of Nintendos console. I don't need it to have 'the best graphics' but something comparable to the PS3 would be nice at least.

And I actually prefer the 'cartoon' look of a lot of games as they usually look less scruffy and more cohesive, that's why I love mario kart! I just want those same graphics + increased fidelity + new innovations brought on by CPU power enabling better physics, AI, immersion effects etc.

Sharpfish

As for PS3 and XBox360, I NEVER OWNED a ps2 or xbox so that argument falls flat, sequels a lot of them may be but not to me they aren't I never played MGS in my life, I only played GT1 on PS1 and FF7 on ps1 - there are far more games that interest me heading to PS3 than there is to Wii as i've already played the entire nintendo cache from snes to GC and see no 'progression' at all.

Games like uncharted and motorstorm do show progression and not just graphics, but scope and passion for creating new/fully formed experiences. ON 360 Dead Rising and Gears/Viva pinata are good examples of 'new' style games that looked stunning and were definitely more fun thanks in part to their great graphics (which helps regardless of what 'hardcore gameplay first' banner you want to put yourself).

I've been playing games since 1981 (atari VCS) i've owned pretty much every system except Xbox and PS2 as at the time I was heavily into PCs and got bored of consoles for a while, it was Nintendo and the Gamecube that made me buy into consoles again based on their FUN GAMEPLAY first party titles (even though many of them are frustratingly flawed and with hindsight - overated).

So i'm as much as fan of nintendo as anyone and i'm glad to see them doing well, this still doesn't mean I can't hope that next time they grow some balls and bring the fight to Sony and MS rather than taking the 'mass market' route and creaming money off of casual moms.

Sharpfish

Exactly, i'm not asking them to change the art direction or style that is so much a part of it, i'm asking for better resolution, clearer textures, more power to bring magical new tracks/AI/physic to life.. if anyone thinks what I hope for is a bad thing then I suggest you go back to a SNES and don't buy any new games or even dare to dream that games can improve.

Sharpfish

anyway i've said my piece re: Wii being in stasis while other hardware is at least trying. It's not a popular view I admit but it's just how I see it, and I know i'd be completely bored of Wii right now had I bought one (As I had planned to right back to when it was called revolution, then I found out that they hadn't upgraded it really and I just lost enthusiasm, as I said had I not owned a played to death a gamecube for 4+ years i'd probably pick a wii and enjoy these games 'fresh' but I did play the gamecube to death and the only thing wii brings is motion control to that formula, I wanted something different this time I got 360 *fucking unrelibale piece of junk* and a PS3, now my main gaming is on PS3 and my PC with a little on the DS plus the gamecube hooked up back on the SD set upstairs for when I want a bit of mario/resi evil

Sharpfish

goombakiller

That's exactly what we can look forward to with the Wii's successor in four years or whatever, I would presume...

quen

Tingle

You don't have to justify your HD purchases by looking down on it, you know? Just saying.

Peace.

Lemming

Lemming

seriously, shit like this makes it harder to post here. fanboy flamewars can be found pretty much anywhere else online.

TheIrishNinja

@dowingba:

First off, don't feed the trolls.

Secondly, you are a different breed of gamer to that of your adversary here. Your Total Annihilation (awesome) avatar image says it all really. To you, good games will hold the test of time indefinitely. They don't start to suck just because they are old. You love the Wii because it does all of those familiar games in new (graphically polished) ways.

@Sharpfish:

Unlike dowingba, you're at a point of transition. You want better physics and more detail. You shouldn't have opened with the stunning new IP argument, because the games (except Gears) you hold as the great new-gen wave are indeed sequels.

Am I correct in saying you're comfortable with retreading over content you've 'beaten'? Do you just think it should take place on 'worthy' systems that can offer updated textures and physics?

Well Sharpfish, not all of us are like you in that respect. Some folks don't get bored with the oldies. The classics. To us, the Wii is a perfect blend of old tech and new with an appealing layer of playability.

Speaking for myself, I'll play the future-gen Mario games not for their hi-res textures or mind-blowing physics, but for the experience of what have come to be unique to Nintendo. It's the shine and polish and cuteness that's not ashamed to be innocent.

That's what Mario Kart Wii is. It knows what it is and it's not trying to be anything else. And for that, I think it's awesome. The only thing I don't like is the fact they included Sherbet Land from N64. What a dull track!

el_gordo

Shadow of the Colossus still looks good and in fact looks better than Kameo: Elements of Power on 360. That game is a fantastic experience, and I'm not sure how much time you spent with the PS2 but it was a juggernaut of great games. For bad games maybe you're thinking of the first Xbox (not 360, which has good games).

Nintendo, at the very least should have had next gen hardware and graphics with the Wiimote. I mean, your system doesn't even play DVD's or CD's.

I played the Wii for about 20 minutes and couldn't see myself enjoying it for a month, so I am not a fan at all, and I own five Nintendo systems (GBC, DS, NES, N64 and GC)

Anyway, to be on topic, those are great sales for that game, and Mario Kart's always been a big series.

kylo4

There's nothing wrong with Wii if you are happy with it, my posts actually were ONLY MY OPINION about why i'm not happy with it graphically I never said anyone else was wrong to enjoy it but it always seems to turn around to some arbitrary slating of the best games on PS3 or 360 to make the Wii look good, which is complete lunacy as games on all 3 can play well it's down to the developers, they are all just computers underneath.

However, I like to be vocal about my displeasure at nintendos underwhelming showing 'this gen' both in games and tech (aside from the wiimote which is something I suppose, so long as it's optional in games) in the vain hope that next gen they may kick Sony's and MS's ass in both gameplay AND graphics while not JUST catering to a casual audience who've not given a damn about gaming up until now (and most likely will go off the Wii given time and not 'upgrade' to the next gen in 4/5 years)

Sharpfish

dowingba

I'm really not just about graphics, I detest graphics led games with no gameplay, gameplay should always come first.

It's just very hard to get that across to Wii fans who assume just because you own a PS3/360 or are not personally happy with what Nintendo chose to do with the Wii that you are somehow just a graphics whore who gets off on pretty graphics. I want BOTH gameplay and graphics is that so bad? Some of the best games I ever played were on the Spectrum and that was the worst of it's competitors in graphcs terms but it didn't matter (it helped that I was young at the time mind) but over time some of us require/demand more fidelity in our gaming including graphics, interaction, physics, depth, immersion etc... even for 'fun' games like mariokart, they could be so much better if they could open up visually and 'breath' a little instead of being the same constrained cartoons they have been for the past decade.

I want to play a truly 'next next gen' Mario Kart that looks stunning and has that gameplay. I'm just too tired of the same old franchises from Nintendo not doing anything different or putting in gimmicks instead (that includes the double dash/2 people on a kart part of MKDD).

Sharpfish

Anywho I can see Mario Kart selling well right through the summer months - all the way til the Winter when no doubt Nintendo will finally let us Europeans get our hands on Brawl

elronathon

dowingba

dowingba

Right well you've just proved my point, I didn't even rate the PS2 I thought it delivered ugly/pixelated junk games for most of it's time, I vastly prefered the gamecube and could see the graphics WERE better on the gamecube... up until developers started pushing PS2 and made some stunning looking games.

The point is the way YOU felt about the PS3 (could barely look at it's games) is how I know feel about Gamecube (and in turn, Wii) games. They just lack the visual fidelty my old gamer eyes desire. SO why can I understand you prefered the Wii over PS2 graphics yet you can't understand why i'd prefer PS3 graphics (Uncharted, GT5p, Motorstorm examples) over Wii (Mario Galaxy, Kart, Smash - all looking basically the same as stuff I played FIVE YEARS AGO).

quote dowingba "Of course I've run HD content though my TV. Why the hell else would I have it? Also note that 480p requires an HDTV to display so therefore it is also HD. The rule of thumb with regards to HDTVs: 480i looks like absolute shit (meaning, worse than it does on an SDTV). Everything else looks great. But this isn't an argument that will go anywhere. Just go play COD4 or whatever and be happy. I'm currently replaying Twilight Princess for the umpteenth time. Talk about bang for your buck."

No sorry, you have the stench of a typical Wii fanboy who hasn't actually played good PS3 games but has read other fanboys slagging them off. Using the old chestnut 'go and play COD4 or whatever' highlights this, as it happens I really HATE COD4, it's static environments and craptastic gameplay bored me rigid, mind you I had played Crysis and that spoiled me (again the 'possibilites' thing) crysis (and motorstorm and uncharter) felt ALIVE and vibrant, Mario Kart Wii looks and feels like what it is, the same old VERY FUN game it always has been but nothing more, just a good version of it.

All i'm asking for is mario kart but with competing graphics so that I may enjoy the best of both worlds. People like you will just help Nintendo hold themselves back graphically if you keep insisting that graphics don't matter... they do matter and they always have or we'd still be playing ataris

Sharpfish

Brian Ashcraft

dowingba

dowingba

Face it, you are biased, you shouldn't even bring the PS3's graphics into it. The fact is it can do anything the Wii can except tacked on motion controls (ok so it can do that too - btw it's quite fun in motorstorm to use sixaxis but I prefer analog sticks as usual).

The only reason to buy wii is because you either get turned on by the idea of waving a controller around (A cool gimmick for sure but after the first ten minutes I played one I thought " ok, what's next") or because you are a fan of Nintendo's first party games (Which I *AM*), but if they just release the same games over and over (Zelda, Mario, Kart, Metroid, Smash Bros) etc there is no compelling reason to invest in a Wii if you've already played the gamecube to death.

Where do they go from here? What is next on the horizon for Nintendo's big franchises?

The world is moving on at a scary rate, GTA4, MGS4, GT5p, Gears of War, Resident Evil 5 etc all being standard bearers of what is now possible with technology at a decent price while the Wii is instead more about taking market share and earning big profits (they are very overprice for the tech that is in them, compare to 360 and PS3 which are/were sold at a loss) Nintendo are making a fortune but at the expense of giving hardcore/older/HD gamers what they want.

I know you won't agree but don't try and say Motorstorm is a technical marvel with tons of fun gameplay because at worst it's just not your cup of tea, Mario KArt Wii on the other hand, yes it's good it's MARIO KART but the point is, i've already played it 3 times on different Nintendo systmes and it's not improved in any tangiable way since the last other than this one appears to be as fun as DD should have been.

You'll see next gen, when nintendo either get competitive with the cash they've made this gen (and maybe even have the best graphics which I would like) or they stick to the old gen tech and get old people and kids invovled more... good for old people and kids, not for me.

Sharpfish

dowingba

dowingba

photoboy

dowingba

Ampillion = That Man.

Anyway, trust me Resident Evil 4 (one of my all time favourite game) I tried to replay when I dumped my SD and went HD and I couldn't take the pixel swimming and general low res textures.

The only game I found to look 'decent' was F-Zero GX, but after playing HD games for a while you go back to them and they look like shit and more importantly you realise how Nintendo are holding themselves back, I could list a bunch of games on both 360 and PS3 that are 'similar' to Nintendos great games in style/fun but who's looks are far beyond what nintendo can put out with the Wii. Viva Pinata, Motorstorm, Dead Rising, Blu Dragon etc..

I think people don't understand when someone like me (who owned GB, SNES, GBA, GAMECUBE, DS phat and DS lite) says that nintendo let us down, they assume we don't like Nintendo but that's not it, it's just I feel it's a shame that we are 'missing' Nintendos stellar first party/famous gameplay and fun factor in true 'next gen' style.

Sorry but i've played the gamecube to death I have no desire to keep playing at that graphical level when there are far more exciting things out there to play for not much more money (esp if you own a HDTV).

Sharpfish

dowingba

I'm not at all surprised this game is doing well. Also from my playtime with it I'm really impressed at how genuinely appealing this game is to new gamers and old. The wheel baffles me but some of my friends who are new to the series (believe it or not!) find it really intuitive...

elronathon

I like mariokart, it's a great game, but I want to see some progress on fidelty and possibilites, this just looks like what MarioKart DD should have been the first time round.

And also, after playing games like MOTORSTORM (PS3) you realise that in fact the true 'next gen' consoles are not JUST about graphics but possibilities, physics, processing... Motorstorm frankly looks stunning (esp in car view) and unless you've played it you really don't know how it's like playing something from ten years in the future compared to MarioKart on the Wii. And yes it's fun, it's everything MarioKart is and more, it just lacks the branding, the cute factor and the same level of multiplayer fun (and yes it's a bit short on tracks). But don't for one second thing that PS3 and the 'other' console are just about serious/grey games, motorstorm looks like a nintendo game from the future, a game that had nintendo upped the power of their console very well could have been graphically and interactively insanely awesome.

/Cue the ps3 flamers who haven't actually witnessed motorstorm first hand and can't see how the basic engine/tech could pull of a ground breaking version of Mario Kart!

Actually Motorstorm reminds me of what POWERDRIFT (old arcade/console game) was attempting to do way before the tech was ready, to see how far we've come in that respect is actually scary, when you look at wii it's like i'm back in 2003 playing the same old games over and over. call me a tech whore but man, we've not got long on this planet and I for one would like progress, even if only graphically, as soon as possible.

That's what stuff like Motorstorm and games like Crysis on a fast PC are infinitely more interesting/jaw dropping/immersive/worthwhile than this same old cartoon shit year after year. But hey, fee free to play the 'gameplay over graphics' card whithout actually playing these stunning looking (and playing) titles.

:)

Sharpfish

dowingba

By that I mean 6 months of pure trash only meant for shallow gaming, then a 'traditional' title (first party franchises mainly) for the hardcore set + some of the casual users.

This is why I avoided getting a Wii even though last gen I owned a gamecube and no PS2 or Xbox. I rated Nintendos games very highly on fun factor, gameplay and even graphics (for the gamecube) but this shit is getting old now, they've obviously turned against what their 'main gamers' want just to please the greater public who are buying the hardware for sure but more and more pack it away to gather dust, just like most non dedicated 'casual' users of anything (ie excercise bikes; buy it cos it's a 'great idea' then get bored).

Nintendo, who I was firmly behind at the start of this gen, have dropped the ball in a gamers perspective, their tired sequels are looking longer in the tooth with each new game. People moan that PS3 and 360 are 'more of the same with better graphics' well surely that's better than 'more of the same with the exact same cartoon graphics'.

Seriously, Nintendo, make your next system hardcore, give us the nintendo gameplay and KILLER technology, don't just stick a wavy proxy mouse on a gamecube.

BTW Gamecube and wii look like shit on any HDTV and more and more people are getting HDTVs now (esp people into technology like consoles). You pulled it off this gen, well done you are RICH! next gen, please spend that cash on getting back on course with innovation (not just waggle control) and competitive graphics and then and only then will your 15th sequel in those long running franchises appear fresh again.

Or, and maybe this is being too clever, actually create some stunning NEW IP and put mario to rest, at least until you can think of something new to do with him.

Sharpfish

Well actually, I haven't tried offering any more money than £35 but you get the idea.

Chadders

dowingba

dowingba

symphony_of_the_night

Anemone

cio

new_pornographer

darthmole12

TaMs

This has a bigger box, and game store employees will always recommend it - this is the game to get.

Must...go...to...sleep. Been up celebrating my birthday :)

Spoony Bard

Wii Fit anyone? No, thought not.

IronsUK

@Witzbold: true, that makes perfect sense. i imagine that's when movie franchises, most mario side-games and you know, stuff like bratz! sells best.

TheIrishNinja

Witzbold

Daniel1982

That's because Nintendo and first party games go hand in hand, while other consoles spreads the love around with 3rd party titles.

LittleBigPlaneteer

ALERT THE PRESS!!!

mishakoz

silkylove

TheIrishNinja

Tiberian

Raziel Dune

Witzbold

Witzbold

Knight-Zero

ph15h HATES ph15h

What was I saying?! EVERYONE LOVES PANCAKES!

King Seafoam

Mario > You

x999x

Metal Gear is going to have a worldwide release. This was only for Japan, so I'm willing to bet it will easily reach a million from first-day sales once the NA and EU sales are included.

NeoAkira

Dits

ohhello

Ra is on Arrested Development!

i dont' like hotcakes... ¬.¬

King Seafoam

Knight-Zero

Or maybe I'm wrong and I've gone crazy. Either way...

PatMan33

Maaxxx

The game itself doesnt seem sold out.

Then again mario kart is one of those games that do good over a long period of time.

Look at the DS one for example. Granted that one has the added +++ of being a portable game though.

Witzbold

Correction: I believe there were over 400K, not 300K. I think we'll actually see numbers higher than 300K then for this first week.

LittleBigPlaneteer

Ra is on Arrested Development!

My Wii has been collecting dust for 3 months waiting for the next Metroid/Zelda or actually unique and clever game.

ohh crap Okami is out.

Molbork

LittleBigPlaneteer

ColinKSU